Li Rui?
Hearing that name gave me a headache.
If you were to ask who in the Li family harbored the deepest resentment towards me, it would undoubtedly be this Li Rui. First, I won four million from him in a bet, then, due to Li Zuoquan, I thoroughly humiliated him. To top it off, Zhang Dabiao and I personally witnessed him shoot and kill Li Zuoquan. If this guy found out we had come to Molu Village, he would surely tear us limb from limb.
Li Rui's purpose in finding us would be none other than to silence us. After all, we were eyewitnesses to him killing Li Zuoquan. If this news got out, even if he was the sole heir of the Li family, he would have no standing.
My expression shifted between elation and gloom as I looked at Fang Huixin, unsure of what she truly wanted to know. Gritting my teeth, I asked, "Boss Fang, I truly don't understand what it is you want to know. Why don't you speak clearly? Then I can tell you if I know or not."
Fang Huixin was not angered. Instead, she set down her teacup, a faint smile on her face.
"You two have been in the county town these past few days, so you might not be familiar with the news from Molu Village. Allow me to tell you."
"There were nearly a hundred people who went up Qingfeng Mountain, and only a handful returned alive. In Molu Village, of course, Li Rui returned, along with the two of you who had hidden in the county town. According to Li Rui's account, he said that you two led them into a death trap. If the Li family found out you were here, do you think they would…?"
My head felt as if it had been hit by a train, buzzing with a dull roar. How could they all be dead? The situation back then wasn't… Recalling the events of that time caused an intense pain in my head.
It felt as if countless needles were drilling outwards from inside my skull. The pain was so unbearable I wished I could just pass out. I could only force myself not to dwell on it.
As long as I didn't recall what happened, the pain would subside. Zhang Dabiao looked at me with concern and said, "If you can't remember, don't force yourself. Just let it go."
I nodded and replied with a soft "Mm." Then, I turned to Fang Huixin and said, "What Li Rui said is utter nonsense. Li Jian was the one who led the way, not me. As for how they actually died, Li Rui knows best, and he even personally…"
Seeing Fang Huixin watching me with keen interest, I swallowed the rest of my words. Now I was starting to see the picture. It turned out Fang Huixin was waiting for me here.
The death of one Li Jian was inconsequential, and the death of one Li Rui was also acceptable. However, Li Zuoquan was the pillar of the Li family, and his death also involved a powerful figure from the capital. Even if I revealed this, she might not believe me.
"Personally what? Why did you stop talking?"
"..."
Seeing my silence, Fang Huixin looked at me with a playful gaze. "Since Master Song doesn't wish to speak, then I shall not ask further. I had intended to save your lives, but it seems you do not appreciate my good intentions. Someone, show our guests out…"
Just as Fang Huixin finished speaking, the driver rushed in from outside, flustered. "Boss… Boss, something's wrong…"
"What's the rush? Don't you see I have guests?" Fang Huixin glared, her gaze silencing the driver's unfinished words.
The driver instinctively flinched, then whispered, "Li Rui has departed from the Li family with his men. Their target appears to be the teahouse."
Fang Huixin frowned. "Your information is quite prompt, only a little slower than mine." She then turned her gaze back to me. "Mr. Song, since you have nothing you wish to say, I believe we have nothing further to discuss. You and Mr. Zhang may leave now."
Upon hearing this, I was so enraged I nearly cursed out loud. If you hadn't made us waste so much time here, we would have already entered the mountains with our equipment. Then, no matter how capable Li Rui was, what could he do to us?
Now, you're just leaving us here, isn't that like throwing us directly into Li Rui's line of fire?
He was already desperate to silence us, and you're now handing us over. They say a woman's heart is the most venomous, but this wickedness is far too blatant.
This put me in a difficult situation, and I felt a pang of resentment towards Zhang Dabiao. If he hadn't insisted on coming, why would we be trapped here?
But clearly, resentment was useless. The priority was to find a way to leave here quickly, otherwise, once Li Rui arrived, it would be impossible to escape.
"Brother Zhang, we need to leave quickly, or it will be difficult to get away when Li Rui catches up."
Zhang Dabiao seemed not to have heard me. Instead, his gaze was fixed intently on Fang Huixin.
"Are you also interested in what is hidden within Qingfeng Mountain?"
Fang Huixin let out a soft chuckle. "Heh heh… And who wouldn't be interested in what's inside?"
"Then we can make a deal. You block Li Rui, and we can take your people into the mountain." Su Dan Novel Network.
"Deal!" Fang Huixin nodded, then said to the driver, "Proceed with the pre-arranged plan…"
"Understood."
Seeing Zhang Dabiao resolve the matter in just a few words, I was somewhat stunned. What was going on? What were they talking about? I couldn't understand a word of it.
"Since we've reached an agreement, I trust Mr. Zhang won't go back on his word. I will arrange for the items to be prepared promptly. I've prepared rooms upstairs for you two to rest. I have other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave. I will send for you when it's time to depart."
After Fang Huixin left, I quickly pressed Zhang Dabiao, "Brother Zhang, what exactly were you talking about? I didn't understand a single word."
"This is not the place to talk. Let's go upstairs and discuss it."
Entering the room prepared for us, Zhang Dabiao motioned for me to be quiet. He then began searching behind the desk lamp and the television. In a short while, he had several thumb-sized listening devices in his hand.
After tossing everything into the trash can, Zhang Dabiao finally breathed a sigh of relief. "We've been set up."
"Set up? By whom?" I asked, somewhat bewildered.
"Fang Huixin."
"Fang Huixin?"
"Mm!"
I was so surprised I nearly fell off the bed, staring wide-eyed at Zhang Dabiao. "Brother Zhang, are you sure you're not mistaken?"
I knew we had been tricked, but I couldn't fathom how Fang Huixin was involved. If it were Wu Gege, I would believe it. If it were Li Zuoquan, I would believe it. Even if Li Rui had set us up, I would accept it. But to be set up by Fang Huixin, I simply couldn't believe it.
Ever since we returned the body of Fang Huixin's daughter, she hadn't shown her face again, as if she had vanished from Molu Village. Now, to suddenly say we were set up by her was absurd.
Seeing my reaction, Zhang Dabiao was not annoyed. Instead, he chuckled. "My brother, there's a saying in our north that I'm sure you've heard: a barking dog doesn't bite. Fang Huixin is that kind of biting dog, or more accurately, a venomous snake hidden in the shadows."